Matthew 17:1 – 8: No one should share our worship of Jesus
Christ, not even Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the prophets).
Isaiah 6:1 - 7; Revelation
chapters 4 and 5: Can we visualize any
other songs and music other than those worshiping God? When we gather on
earth we gather as God’s People, Christ’s Body; we represent heaven on earth
and our worship on earth should reflect heavenly worship “on earth as it is in
heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
2 Corinthians 11:1 – 3: We have
one Husband, Jesus Christ. Our focus and attention and surrender are to be to
Jesus alone.
When we studied Jeremiah in
Sunday school, one of the lessons discussed syncretism – syncretism is when
other elements are blended into God’s Word.
As leaders of God’s people, in
whatever capacity, we must be careful to always direct our collective attention
to Jesus Christ and to avoid confusion of what it means to worship God in Spirit
and in truth (John 4:24). The Kingdom of God and the nation we live in are not
synonymous. When we worship we are surrendering, and we are communing with our
holy God – when we introduce any other entity or person into the worship of God
it is syncretism. Let’s not forget that the early Christians were persecuted
not so much because they worshiped Jesus Christ, but because they wouldn’t also worship Caesar and the Roman State.
We are called to pray for our
nation, we are called to confess the sins of our nation, we are called to pray
for our rulers (1Timothy 2:1) – but we are not called to worship our nation. (I
do think it is appropriate to recognize and give thanks for the women and men in
the military who have served, and currently serve, our nation; just as I think
we ought to give thanks and pray for our first-responders).
How can we model faithfulness to
Jesus on Sunday mornings? How can we show others what it means to love Jesus
Christ with all that we are? How can we respond to the Father’s voice, “This is
my beloved Son, hear him!”
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